Page 2 of Unexpected Temptation

A melia faced her parents , who sat close together on the sofa.

She tried to look calm even when her nerves were shot, and she had a strong desire to pee her pants.

Conflict of any kind was something she’d never been good at.

She gripped her hands together because she didn’t want them to see her tremble.

They would have used it against her—especially her sister.

“This isn’t a decision I’ve made lightly. It’s time I found my own place in this world, and we all know it’s not here.”

Amelia watched as her parents looked at each other, but otherwise, they stayed silent.

“Where? You’ve never been on your own, Amelia,” Meredith scoffed.

Amelia turned to her sister, who sat separately from their parents, elegantly draped over a chair.

“Did you think I’d spend the rest of my life hidden away in this house?”

Meredith rolled her eyes.

“Oh, for God’s sake. Cut the drama.”

Amelia gritted her teeth. “I’m not being dramatic. It’s the truth,” she burst out.

Her mother’s lips pursed in disapproval, and she waved her hand up in the air.

“Dear, your father and I are actively looking for a suitable man for you. One who will be good to you and bring something to the family. It just takes time.”

Amelia looked at her mother. Not a hair out of place and with the same serene look she always seemed to sport. Amelia swallowed past the resentment that wanted to choke her.

The thought of marrying someone they chose made her physically sick. She’d been down that road before.

“I had a suitable man.”

“Let’s not bring up bad memories.”

Amelia looked at her father in disbelief. “Is that what you call it, Dad? My sister decided to have sex with the man I was engaged to, a man I loved deeply.”

Meredith snorted, leaned back in the chair, and held her hands out to look at her nails.

“I did you a favor, sis. He would have bonked another woman eventually. I just helped you see his true colors.”

“Really, dear. Let’s not get vulgar.”

Meredith chuckled. “Sorry, Mother.”

Amelia was done fighting. “I’m leaving as soon as I’m ready.”

“Dear...”

“Mom, let her go. She’ll fall on her face and come back.”

Amelia blinked back the tears that burned her eyes, but stayed silent. She wasn’t going to argue with them. She was an adult and could do or go wherever she wanted.

“Just think, you’ll never have to see me or deal with me again. In fact, you can forget I ever existed.”

Before they said anything, she stood and looked at her parents. “If there’s nothing else, I have more packing to do.” She turned and left the room without looking back.

****

“S o where are you going ?”

Amelia looked over her shoulder at her sister before she turned back to finish zipping the last suitcase closed.

“I’m going to Mr. Stone’s first and somehow explain why you won’t be able to marry him.”

Meredith chuckled and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah? What are you going to say?”

Amelia ignored the icy sarcasm. “I have a few days. I’ll come up with something.”

“And then what?”

Amelia picked up her purse and the suitcase before turning to her sister and scowling.

“I’m curious. Do you even care?” she asked.

Meredith shrugged. “I want to know how you think you’re going to start a life on your own. You’re twenty-three and have always lived at home. You don’t know how to take care of yourself. For God’s sake, do you even know how to cook, pump gas, or even shop for groceries?”

Amelia stopped next to her sister. She straightened her shoulders, tilted her head up, and looked her in the eye.

“Not yet, but people learn things every day. I’m smart, I know I’ll be able to learn everything I need. Anything is better than living here.”

Meredith shook her head and smirked. “Good luck. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”

“Don’t bet on it. I’d rather be dead than live here with you guys again.”

Amelia made it down to the bottom of the stairs and stood. She could hear her parents talking in the dining room.

“I’m leaving,” Amelia hollered out.

There was a moment of silence.

“Okay, dear,” her mother said, and then nothing.

Amelia stood dumbfounded. She took a breath at the crushing feeling that pierced her heart. Weren’t they even going to say goodbye? Her parents started talking about the party the night before, like Amelia didn’t exist. At that moment, she knew she was making the right decision.

Amelia swallowed her tears, squared her shoulders, and walked out of the only home she’d ever had, knowing without a doubt she would never be back.

Amelia stopped the car at the end of the brick driveway and looked back toward the house in her rearview mirror.

“Goodbye,” she whispered before she looked forward to a life that made her happy. Amelia drove slowly through the part of the city she’d known her whole life. Except for a few friends, she had nothing to come back to.